Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the Allied Peoples Movement.
Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered that his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, is also preparing to exit the party amid escalating leadership and legal crises.
Mohammed announced his defection on Saturday after what he described as a series of consultations with political stakeholders.
He cited the Supreme Court judgment on the PDP leadership dispute as a turning point.
According to him, the verdict left the party without clear legal and organisational direction.
Both Bala and Makinde were the last remaining PDP governors following months of defections and internal fragmentation that have weakened the opposition party and eroded its hold on elected office holders nationwide.
The two governors are the leaders of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP, whose 2025 Ibadan convention was nullified by the Supreme Court on Thursday.
The other group led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has since claimed firm control of the party.
Makinde’s defection move
Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered that Makinde had also concluded plans to dump the PDP, as he had instructed all aspirants of the party in Oyo not to obtain forms.
A party leader in the South-West disclosed that Makinde would leave the party “any moment from now.”
The PDP leader, who is an ally of the governor, said, “I am aware the governor will leave (the PDP) any moment from now, but I don’t know the party he is going to yet.”
Similarly, a key member of Makinde’s cabinet disclosed to one of our correspondents on Saturday that the governor was considering options before his resignation from the PDP.
The cabinet member, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said, “The governor is prepared to leave the party. We are still discussing and considering options. It will not be too late for the people of Oyo and our aspirants.”
Also, an official in the Governor’s Office said Makinde would soon leave the party.
“The governor has directed all the aspirants in the PDP not to obtain forms under the PDP. He and other PDP leaders have screened all the aspirants except those in Oyo South Senatorial District. Our next destination is most likely NDC or APM. Everything will be settled next week,” he said.
However, Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, told Sunday PUNCH that the governor had not mentioned any defection plan.
Deadline for defection
Going by the new guideline of the Independent National Electoral Commission, all political parties are to submit their digital membership register 21 days before their primaries.
INEC also set May 30 as the deadline for primaries in line with the provisions of the new Electoral Act.
With the guideline, intending defectors have until May 9 to join and register in a new party so as to be able to contest under its platform.
Defending his decision after the meeting, Bala said he had spent the past eight days in Abuja engaging key stakeholders in efforts to resolve the party’s internal challenges.
He noted, however, that the apex court’s verdict, which nullified the parallel conventions conducted by rival factions within the PDP, had altered the political landscape.
The governor said the judgment stripped both factions of legal standing, leaving the party’s Board of Trustees to temporarily oversee its affairs.
He added that subsequent developments had further deepened uncertainty within the party.
The governor expressed appreciation to the PDP for providing a platform for his political growth and service but stressed the need to move on in the interest of governance and political stability.
“However, as responsible leaders, we cannot allow our people to be left without a credible and effective political platform,” he stated.
Mohammed explained that his decision to join the APM was a strategic move aimed at ensuring political continuity and electoral success.
He described the party as a viable platform free from legal encumbrances.
He also disclosed that members of the State Executive Council interested in contesting elective offices had resigned in line with the law.
While appreciating the PDP for its role in his political journey, he said the decision to leave was driven by necessity.
“We remain PDP at heart. We are leaving not out of bitterness, but out of necessity—to continue the struggle for good governance,” the governor said.
Announcing his new political platform, Mohammed added, “Consequently, after extensive consultations, we have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the Allied Peoples Movement.”
To ensure a smooth transition, the governor outlined measures including the establishment of a compliance committee, commencement of online membership registration, formal resignation of interested members, engagement with APM leadership, and the constitution of a committee to interface with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He urged his supporters to remain calm and united, emphasising that the move was not borne out of uncertainty but a deliberate repositioning.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, formally received the governor and his supporters into the party.
Dantalle described the APM as a “clean democratic party” guided by the motto “Nigeria First,” with principles anchored on integrity, sacrifice, and service.
He commended Mohammed’s leadership style, describing Bauchi as a state where democratic values thrive and political participation is inclusive.
The APM chairman also highlighted the party’s performance in recent local government elections, noting that it secured councillorship victories and remained competitive alongside other parties.
He assured the defectors that the party had no internal crisis, stressing that it operates strictly in accordance with its constitution.
(Source: Punch with modified headline)
